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With Kyle Lowry out a full month and just now starting to shoot again with his repaired right wrist, the Raptors were looking to extend the winning streak to a season-high seven against a team that has been struggling.

On paper the odds looked very good. In reality the Hornets proved games are not played on paper.

This one was there for the taking until Kemba Walker finally put his imprint on the game in the fourth quarter.

Through three he was a very quiet 3-for-18 from the field for just eight points as Cory Joseph hounded him every time he touched the ball.

But with the game still very much undecided Walker found his shooting touch and with an 11-point fourth made sure the Hornets got out of Toronto with a win.

He hurt the Raps with the three ball connecting on three of four in the final 12 minutes to earn a 110-106 win.

There were many times through the night where it looked like Toronto just might get that season high seven-game win streak.

The initial turnaround came in the third with Toronto’s starters back on the floor and the defence dialed up a few notches as the Raps held Charlotte to just 16 points in the frame while all five starters took turns doing damage against Charlotte.

The Hornets though weren’t done and had one more run in them early in the fourth as they erased the eight-point lead Toronto had coming into the fourth with just over four minutes gone.

It was back and forth from that point on until Walker put things away with his big final quarter.

These Lowry-less Raptors are a tough bunch to get a handle on.

One game they are lights out defensively. The next they forego the defence and try to outscore the opponent. Wednesday night there were stretches of both superior defence like that third quarter and outstanding offence like the final part of that third quarter but in the end no answer for the Hornets dominance at the three point line where they made 16 to Toronto’s 11.

When Lowry returns, and no one is giving any indication exactly when that might occur, things should even out but even then there’s going to be a period of adjustment.

In a perfect world Lowry comes back with three or four games before the end of the regular season to give him time to get re-acclimated.

Were he just coming back to the same team he left this wouldn’t be much of an issue, but plenty has changed since Lowry had his wrist surgery at the end of February beginning with the arrival of both Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker and there is a definite need for at least some regular season time to get comfortable with the newcomers on the court.

“You have a guy like Serge who can space the floor and do different things than (Kyle) is normally used to,” Casey said. “Usually it’s Pat (Patterson) but Serge brings a different dimension to the offence. Different dimension defensively and so does P.J. So it will be a combination of (getting used to) both. That will be another rhythm situation where the team is going to have to get used to each other with him coming back.”

The game saw the return of DeMarre Carroll to the starting lineup after a two game absence and while he looked a little rusty offensively he was at least engaged defensively.

DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 28 but Walker’s big fourth quarter along with an equally impressive 11-point fourth from Marco Bellinelli made it all for naught.

The Raptors came into the evening with a chance to clinch home court for the first round but needed both a win at home and an Atlanta loss to Philadelphia. They got neither.

Next up are the struggling Indiana Pacers Friday night.

NO TIMETABLE FOR LOWRY

If you want to end a conversation quickly these days with any member of the Raptors front office or coaching staff, ask about a timetable for Kyle Lowry’s eventual return.

It’s sure to be met with almost total silence.

Dwane Casey wasn’t any more forthcoming Wednesday when the subject was raised again, some four weeks and a day after his surgery to remove some loose bodies in his right wrist.

He did offer that Lowry has progressed to shooting with his right hand which is the best indication yet that Lowry is in fact progressing.

“He is working his butt off and running and shooting now with his good hand so as that’s as far as they let me know,” Casey said referring to the medical updates he receives. “We just have to keep going until he gets back.”

In the meantime rather than harassing the medical people for updates, Casey is working with what he has.

“They will tell me when he’s ready,” Casey said. “Our whole thing is making sure we are playing in a good rhythm and getting a better feel for each other offensively.”